Positioning device for machine tool tables



y 4, 1940. F. o. HOAGLAND 2.200.884

POSITIONING DEVICE FOR MACHINE TOOL TABLES Filed Feb. 26, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR F0 /7/0A6LANO ATTORNEY y 4, 19% F0. HOAGLAND 2.200.884

POSITIONING DEVICE FORMACHINE TOOL TABLES I Filed Feb. 26, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 14,1940. F, Q HOAGLAND 2.200,884

POSITIONING DEVICE FOR MACHINE TOOL TABLES Filed Feb. 26, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR F0. HOAGAAND ATTORNEY Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POSITIONING DEVICE FOR MACHINE TOOL TABLES Application February 26, 1937, Serial No. 127,973

5 Claims.

This invention relates to metal drilling and boring machines and particularly to a vertical machine of the above type having precision table positioning and locating means so that work pieces mounted on said table may be moved predetermined distances in a plane relative to a cutting tool.

An object of the invention is to provide .improvements upon the positioning and measuring device shown in the patent to Hanson 1,323,267, granted December 2, 1919.

Another object of the invention is to permit adjustments of the movable support to be rapidly made manually to extremely precise adjustments im'thout the possibility of injury occurring to any of the parts of the positioning mechanism.

One feature of the invention which is advantageous is that the adjusted position of the table is determined by the oscillated position of a pivotally mounted frame fixed in position relative to the part movement of which is being measured. the pivotally mounted frame having a finger portion engaging any one of a plurality of abutments formed upon a bar mounted on and movable with the member being measured.

Another feature of importance is that in the pivotally mounted frame the finger is also pivotally mounted for oscillation in the same direction as the frame so that the finger may move to an inoperative position beyond its gaging or operative position to permit passage of the table beyond predetermined positions for which the measuring means are adjusted, this added movement being without injury to the finger .or parts associated therewith.

And finally it is an object of the invention to provide the abutments on the bar for engagement by the finger made up of short blocks having their parallel opposite end faces equally spaced apart and the entire number of blocks being clamped in alinement with each other preferably on the lower surface of the movable table the successive positions of which are to be measured.

With the above and other objects in view, the

invention may include the features of construction and operation set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings annexed here-- to and forming a part of this specification, I have shown the invention embodied in a vertical boring and milling machine but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawings are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended to this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine showing the present invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view on an enlarged scale of the adjusting and positioning mechanism for a movable table and the indicating means therefor.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the tablepositioning mechanism showing the abutment bar secured in position on the table, the means for adjusting the contacting mechanism and the finger carried by the contacting mechanism being shown in measuring position.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation in section of the contact mechanism shown with the finger in operative engagement with one of the abutments on the bar and also in its retracted inoperative position.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4, the abutment bar being omitted.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the positioning mechanism taken on the planes of broken line 6--6 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken on the planes of broken line |-'l of Fig. 4.

Briefly, and in its preferred aspect, the invention may include the following principal parts: First. an abutment bar mounted on the member, movements and positions of which are being measured and indicated, this bar extending parallel to the direction of movement of the member and the abutments being equally spaced along the bar; second, a contacting member longitudinally adjustable within the support for the movable member or table. the direction of adjustment of this contacting member being parallel to the direction of movement of the member being positioned; third, a'pivotaliy mounted member in said adjustable contacting member having a small abutment engag ng finger thereon; fourth, an armature in said adjustable member movable between induction coils of an electric circuit; fifth, an indicating instrument onerated by said circuit to determine when said contacting member is in its gaging or m asu n position; and sixth. means to accurately adjust and determine the position of the contacting member.

Referring in detail to the figures of the draw ings, there is shown a vertical type precision boring machine having a base it, a column I! and a tool head i2. Within the head I2 is a rotatable tool spindle i3 on whichmay be mounted to the other.

a boring or other tool I4 at its lower end. As these members of the machine form no part of the present invention, further description is not thought to be necessary. Means are provided to rapidly rotate the tool I4 and to feed the spindle I3 and tool I4 slowly up or down.

On the base I6 there is mounted a saddle I5 movable horizontally toward and from the column II on suitable ways. On the upper surface of the saddle I5 is a table I6 movable along suitable ways on the saddle in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the saddle 'I5.'

The primary object of the invention is to determine precisely the distances moved by the saddle I5 along the base I0 and of'the table I6 along the saddle [5. As the mechanism for moving and determining the precise length of movements between settings of the saddle and table are similar to each other, but one of these mech anisms will require description of its detail parts.

Referring to Fig. 3', it will be seen that an abut ment bar or rod 26 is mounted along one side of the table I6 parallel to its direction of movement relative to the saddle I5. As shown in this figure the bar or rod 20' is made up of a plurality of short blocks 2| having fiat parallel end surfaces identical distances apart. These individual blocks are held together by a central tie rod 22 having nuts 23 threaded thereon at opposite ends.

Preferably the rod 22 passes through a bracket 24 on the table I6 in which the bar 2| is secured against axial movement. The opposite end of the bar may rest within a suitable opening in a manner to permit free elongation and contraction of the bar.

Below the bar 20 and mounted for adjustment short distances in the direction of movement of the table I6 is the contacting device 25. This device is mounted upon the inner end of along rod 26 slidably mounted within the saddle. |5"as will be more fully described hereinafter; At the outer or forward end of this bar 26 there is pro vided an accurately threaded nut engaging the threaded spindle '21 of a micrometer 28. The micrometer 28 has a large diameter'graduated dial to determine the rotary adjustment of the dial. Preferably a small scale 29 on the saddle I5 (see Fig. 2) is provided to facilitate reading of the approximate position of the contacting member 25. For convenience in making preliminary adjustments, the scale 29 may be secured in adjusted longitudinal positions. V

The contacting member is'so positioned'by its bar 26 relative to the table I6 and the bar 26 that each one of the abutment surfaces on the blocks 2| may engage the contact finger 30 when the table I6 is moved from one extreme position It is the critical position of the finger 30 that determines when the positioning of the table I6 has been brought tothe exact predetermined position.

The contacting device 25 has a pivotally mounted member therein so that this member may oscillate'through a small angle. Movable with oscillatory movements of the pivotally mounted member 35 is an armature 3| disposed between closely adjacent induction coils 32. These coils 32 are in an electric circuit which also includes an electric indicating instrument 33 conveniently mounted for observation 'by the operator and having a movable pointer passing 3 over a scale. The circuit forms no part of the present invention so will not be described. It will suffice to say that with the armature disposed midway between the coils 32 the pointer of the instrument 33 will be at its zero or central position. Slight variations of the armature 3| from its mid position will vary the position of the pointer of the instrument 33 over its scale.

As shown in Fig. 4, the armature 3| is flexibly mounted at one end by a flexible strip 36 and is lightly pressed upward by a suitable spring 31 against an adjustable threaded stop 38. Between 1 the contacting device 35 and the armature 3| is interposed a stud 39 resting upon the armature 3| and having its upper end in contact with a portion of the contacting device.

Within the contacting device 35 is pivotally mounted the small finger 3|] extending above the contacting device 35. This finger 36 in its raised or operative position engages against an end surface of one of the abutments 2|. This finger also is normally held in its operative position by means of a light spring 4|, strong enough, however, to cause the pivotal member 35 to oscillate and vary the position of the armature before permitting the finger 36 to oscillate about the" axis of pivot into its retracted position. v

As the table I6 and the abutment bar 2| hav to move past the finger 36 when adjustments of the table I6 todiiferent positions are made and the table may accidentally be moved beyond the desired position for which the mechanism may be adjusted, the finger 30 is movable to an in-' operative retracted position. 'When moved to its depressed or inoperative position the finger 30 may be held retracted until the table I6 has been moved approximately to its new position. This retaining means includes a second pivotally mounted member 42. in the contacting device having .a latching portion 43 adjacent'the finger 36. When the finger 30 is oscillated to its retracted position a forward projection on the finger 30 engages below latching portion of the second pivotal member 42. ber 42 is manually moved to release the finger 36 the table I6 maybe moved freely to-any posi tion and in either direction without the finger striking against the abutments 2|. When the finger 30 is to be released the member 42 is re: tracted by means of a rod 44 having a cross pin 45 loosely engaging within a recess in thememe ber 42. To move this rod 44 an elongated'ro'd- 46 is connected thereto, as shown in Fig. 4, which extends to the front surface of the machine. ,As soon as this rod 46 is pushed manually inward-a short distance the member '42 is oscillated to the left as seen in Fig. 4 and the finger 30 is then released for oscillatory movement into en= gagement with an abutment. To press the member 42 normally in a direction to lock the finger 36 in retracted position when depressed, a light spring 41 is provided. r

The contacting device 35 is pivotally mounted upon the axis 5!] and may be weighted on one side of the axis so that until the finger 36 en-' gages one of the blocks 2| the right hand por-' tion as seen in Fig. 4 rests against an adjustable stop 5|. determined position for which the positioning mechanism is adjusted is always made-toward the left, as the parts are seen in Fig. 4. This movement of the table I6 and bar 2! as the'table is brought into its final position serves tooscillate the member 35 and the finger 36 about the axis 56, thus moving the armature downward against the pressure of spring 31. 1"

In operation the measuring devices are se in a zero position for any initial position of the table I6. With the table I6 m an initial Until the mem- Movement of the table I6 to. thepreposition the scale 29 is adjusted longitudinally so that one end of its scale is opposite the zero line on an arm 52 outstanding from and moving with the contacting device 25 and its adjusting rod 26. The graduated dial of the micrometer 28 is then angularly adjusted and locked by its clamping screw 53 so that its zero will be opposite a zero line on the bracket 54 within which the screw 21 is supported. To move the table IS a predetermined precise distance the table I6 is first moved approximately the desired distance. This may be done by counting the turns of the hand wheel 55 for the positioning screw for the table (not shown) or by any other desired means. The rod 26 for this purpose preferably may be provided with equally spaced circumferential grooves 56. A pointer 5'! mounted on a part moving with the table It enables the position of the table to be approximately determined. The graduated dial 28 and screw 2'! are then rotated so that the scale 29 and graduation on the dial indicate the fractional part of an inch of the desired length of movement desired. The rod 46 is then pushed inward to release the contactor finger 30 after which the hand wheel 55 is rotated slowly until the table It is moved to its critical or predetermined position. This position is indicated by the pointer on the indicating instrument 33 moving to its central or zero position when the armature 3| is moved slightly downward by oscillation of the pivotally mounted member 35 and the finger 30 about the axis 50.

What I claim is:

1. A table positioning means for machine tools comprising in combination, a base, a table thereon, means to move said table along said base, a bar on said table extending in the direction of movement thereof, said bar having a plurality of spaced abutments, a pivotal frame slidably mounted in said base, a finger pivotally supported 1 in said pivotal frame and in position to engage an abutment, means to bodily move said frame and finger in the direction of movement of said table, and means to determine when said frame and finger are in a predetermined adjusted position within said base with said finger engaged by one of said abutments, said finger being movably mounted within its frame for movement to an inoperative position.

2. A table positioning means for machine tools comprising in combination, a base, a table thereon, means to move said table along said base, a bar on said table extending in the direction of movement thereof, equally spaced abutments on said bar, a pivotally supported member within said base, a finger pivotally mounted in said member for engagement with any of said abutments, said member and finger beingmovable in the direction of movement of said table, means to adjust the position of said member. longitudinally to predetermined positions in a direction parallel to said bar, and means to indicate when said table is in a predetermined position with said pivotally mounted member in contact with one of said abutments and in a predetermined tilted position.

3. A table positioning means for machine tools comprising in combination, a base, a table thereon, means to move said table, a bar on said table extending in the direction of movement thereof, equally spaced abutments on said bar, a pivotal member supported in said base having a movable member in position to engage any of said abutments, micrometer adjusting means for said pivotal member whereby the position of said member in a direction parallel. to said bar may be determined, and means to indicate when said pivotal and movable members are in measuring position.

4. A positioning device for movable members comprising in combination, a bar on the member to be moved provided with spaced abutments, a finger adapted to engage one of said abutments when said member is in a predetermined position, a pivotal frame slidably mounted within the base and within Which said finger is supported, and means to bodily move said frame and finger predetermined distances in the direction of movement of said member, said finger being depressed to and retained in a retracted inoperative position when said member is moved beyond a predetermined position, and manual releasing means for said finger.

5. A positioning device for movable members comprising in combination, a bar on the member to be moved provided with spaced abutments, a

pivotally mounted finger adapted to engage one of said abutments when said member is in a predetermined position, apivotal frame slidably mounted within the base and within which said finger is pivotally mounted, means to bodily move said frame and finger predetermined distances in the direction of movement of said member, said finger being oscillated to an inoperative position within said frame when said member is moved beyond the position for which the frame is set, means to retain said pivotal finger in its inoperative position, and manual means to release said finger for movement to its operative position.

FRANK O. HOAGLAND. 

